Research Article ISSN 2336-9744 (online) | ISSN 2337-0173 (print) The journal is available on line at www.ecol-mne.com Checklist and Distribution of Marine and freshwater leeches (Annelida, Clitellata, Hirudinea) in Tunisia with identification key RAJA BEN AHMED *, YASMINA ROMDHANE and SAÏDA TEKAYA Université de Tunis El Manar, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis UR 11ES12 Biologie de la Reproduction et du Développement Animal, 2092 EL Manar Tunis Tunisie. E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]. *Corresponding author. Received 20 November 2014 │ Accepted 25 December 2014 │ Published online 8 January 2015. Abstract In this study 13 leech species from Tunisia are listed. They belong to 2 orders, 2 suborders, 4 families and 11 genera. The paper includes also data about hosts and habitats, distribution in the world and in Tunisia. Faunistic informations on leeches were found in literature and in the results of recent surveys conducted by the authors in the North East and the South of the country. The objectives of this study were to summarize historical and recent taxonomic data, and to propose an identification key for species signalized. This checklist is to be completed, taking into account the hydrobiological network of the country especially the North West region, which may reveal more species in the future. Key words : Hirudinea, Checklist, leeches, geographic distribution, Tunisia, identification key. Introduction Available information on the distribution, taxonomy, and ecology of Tunisian leeches has been scattered throughout various historical (Blanchard 1891, 1908, Megnin 1891, Seurat 1922) as well as recent papers (Ben Ahmed et al. 2008a, 2008b, 2008c, Ben Ahmed & Tekaya 2009, Ben Ahmed et al., 2013, Nesemann & Neubert 1994). None of these papers have focused on the country’s fauna as a whole. Furthermore, until 2006, only 5 leech species have been reported for Tunisia. Also, the taxonomy of Mediterranean marine leeches is poorly known, and information on Tunisian fauna is limited to a single species recently recorded by Ben Ahmed et al. (submitted paper). The principal limitation on availability of material is because marine leeches are difficult to obtain with standard sampling equipment. This paper lists 12 freshwater and one marine leech species and the list is expected to get much longer in the future. Material and Methods The information and data summarised herein have been obtained from previously published papers and from extensive material collected by the authors during the period 2006-2012. Freshwater leeches were collected from rivers, drainage basin, springs and streams (Fig.1). Leeches were found attached to the underside of a variety of objects, such as rocks and submerged vegetation. The material examined was deposited in the first author’s collection at the Faculty of Science of Tunis. A Tunisian marine leech, attached to the fish Symphodus tinca (Linnaeus, 1758), was collected from the lagoon of Bizerte. In the laboratory, the living leeches were first photographed using a Nikon Coolpix digital camera, then a preliminary identification was made based on external features as that several specimens could be identified using Ecol. Mont. 2 (1), 2015, 3-19 CHECKLIST OF LEECHES OF TUNISIA external morphology only. Other leeches requiring the internal structure study, were narcotised, dissected, preserved in 70% ethanol and then identified using an Olympus SZ-ST stereomicroscope. Figure 1. Some sites of leech collection in Tunisia. A: Ain Sidi Saleh (Bizerte governorate); B: Elkhalsa drainage basin (El Kef governorate); C: Stream Oued el Melih Ouechtéta (Beja governorate); E: Aïn Ennfeja (Bizerte governorate); D: Aïn Rouissat, (Kairouan governorate); F: Aïn Soltane, (Jendouba governorate) G: National Parc ElFaïja, Oued Chobit Elméé (Jendouba governorate). 4 BEN AHMED ET AL. Systematic account In total, 13 species of Hirudinea representing four families (Table I) are now known to occur in Tunisia based upon records in the literature and/or specimens collected during our seven-year study (2006-2012). Detailed accounts on these leeches are presented below. Table I: List of leech species of Tunisia. Order Rhynchobdellida Blanchard, 1894 Family Glossiphoniidae Vaillant, 1890 Genus Alboglossiphonia Lukin, 1976 Alboglossiphonia hyalina (O. F. Müller, 1774) (Fig. 2B) Diagnosis: The body is flattened and uniform yellowish coloured . The rounded head has three pairs of eyes. The dorsal surface is more or less rough by small regularly arranged papillae. The genital pores are joined and open in a common pore. Ectoparasite of freshwater Gastropods, sometimes penetrating into the mantle cavity. Habitat: Found under stones, it seems to prefer stagnant to slow flowing water bodies often of artificial origin such as drainage basin. The presence of aquatic molluscs appears to be important. Distribution: A. hyalina was described from Denmark under the name Hirudo heteroclita var. hyalina . It has further been reported from Poland as Glossiphonia heteroclita var . hyalina (Pawlowski, 1936). A common species, occurring in central- and western-Europe (Soós 1969, Nesemann & Neubert 1999). Recently, Jueg et al. (2013) collected it in Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan). Ecol. Mont. 2 (1), 2015, 3 -19 5 CHECKLIST OF LEECHES OF TUNISIA In Tunisia (Fig. 5B), this species was reported for the first time by Ben Ahmed et al. (2008a) in Lebna drainage basin (36.44326 N, 10. 55 255 E). In the present study, we add its presence in Port Prince drainage basin (36.51162 N, 10. 39404 E). It seems that this species has a limited distribution and up till now only known from two localities in Nabeul governorate in the North East of the country. Figure 2. A Dorsal face of Batracobdella algira : Scale bar = 1.3cm ; in set : disposition of eyes in B. algira : Scale bar = 0.26 cm; B Dorsal face of Alboglossiphonia hyalina : Scale bar = 1.3cm ; in set : disposition of eyes in A. hyalina : Scale bar = 0.6cm; C Dorsal face of Helobdella stagnalis : Scale bar = 1cm; in set : disposition of eyes in H. stagnalis : Scale bar = 0.3cm ; D Dorsal face of Placobdella costata : Scale bar = 1.8cm ; in set : disposition of eyes in P. costata : Scale bar = 0.6cm ; E Dorsal face of Theromyzon tessulatum : Scale bar = 1,9cm ; in set : disposition of eyes in T. tessulatum : Scale bar = 0.8cm . 6 BEN AHMED ET AL. Genus Batracobdella Viguier, 1879 Batracobdella algira (Moquin-Tandon, 1846) (Fig. 2A) Diagnosis: The body is dorsoventrally flattened. The dorsal surface is covered by papillae with three distinct longitudinal rows of larger papillae. The body colour is brown. The head bears two separate eyes. The caudal sucker is large. The genital pores are separated by two annuli and seven pairs of crop caeca are present. Habitat: Eurytopic species, found in many freshwater environments (drainage basins, oueds, springs, marshes...). An ectoparasitic association with the toad Amietophrynus mauritanicus (Schlegel, 1841) was noted by Ben Ahmed et al . (2014). Distribution: This species was described from Algeria. Viguier (1879) attributed this leech to the genus Batracobdella. Seurat (1922) recorded it under the name Helobdella algira from Algeria and Tunisia but without citing localities. It has been collected from the skin of several Amphibian Anura species ( Discoglossus pictus , Pelopphylax ridibundus ) and Urodeles ( Hydromantes genei ). So ỏs (1969) reported the following distribution: North Africa, Portugal, Spain, Balearic Islands, Corsica and the Crimean Peninsula. Minelli (1979) mentioned the same distribution, but added its presence in Sardinia. Nesemann & Neubert (1999) mentioned that this rare species is only known from North West Africa and from the western Mediterranean. They also noted that there are records from Morocco, Algeria, Portugal, Spain and Corsica. B. algira is widespread on the Iberian Peninsula, but not common. In Tunisia (Fig. 5E), B. algira was recorded by Blanchard (1908) under the name Helobdella algira in Jendouba governorate in the valley of El Lebga (Aïn Drahem). Ben Ahmed et al . (2008a) reported it from North East Tunisia in Nabeul governorate (Lebna drainage basin) and Ben Ahmed et al . (2008b) from Beja governorate (Aïn El Goussa, 36.44N, 9.11E). In the present study we add several new records for the country: Nabeul governorate: Port Prince drainage basin, 36.51162 N, 10.39404 E; drainage basin Tebouda El Haouria, 37.3.0 N, 11.0.36E; Marsh sidi Ameur in El Haouria, 37.3.0 N, 11.0.33 E; Bizerte governorate: Ichkeul, 37.11255N, 09.34953E; Beja governorate: Aïn Zaga (Nefza), 36.58965N, 09.569329E; Siliana governorate: Aïn Tejra (Baten ezreyeb) 36.26N, 09.43E; El kef governorate: Marsh Elkhalsa (Sers), 35.95437N, 09.17461E; Kairouan governorate: El khadhra drainage basin, 36.1668N, 10.06214E; and Aïn Rouissat, 35.47229 N, 09.51176 E; Jendouba governorate: Marsh, 36.57N, 08.54E); for the first time in the south of the country: Tozeur governorate: Chbika (37.1912N, 7.55588E) and Tamaghza (34.2248N, 7.570E). Genus Helobdella Blanchard, 1896 Helobdella stagnalis (Linneaus, 1758) (Fig. 2C) Diagnosis: The body is flattened and lanceolate. The general colouration is gray. The head bears one pair of eyes. A brown plaque (scute) is present on the dorsal side in the neck region. The gonopores are separated by a single annulus. Habitat: The species was collected under stones, especially in stagnant and slowly running waters. Associated fauna: chironomids and Gammarus . Distribution: Helobdella stagnalis is a cosmopolitan